Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Captain Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu has explained why the contract of SITA at Abuja and Lagos airports was not renewed.
Yadudu who spoke during an interview with aviation journalists at the 25th Annual Conference and Award events of League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) held at Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos, said he believe FAAN has already moved forward beyond the issue of SITA.
Explaining the circumstances that led to the replacement SITA with RESA, the Chief Executive Officer of FAAN explained that while SITA was under performing and failed to improve; it didn’t reapply creditably for the contract after the expiration of its 10 year contract with FAAN.
“I believe FAAN has already moved forward. What brought about the whole issue is that we decided to improve the whole process. The 10-year SITA contract for Lagos and Abuja airports expired last year and FAAN decided to improve the process. Even while the SITA contract ran, some services were not rendered by SITA. Nonetheless, we ran an open procurement process for the service to be renewed. This type of service is run by only two or three companies in the world. We advertised, two companies responded, and SITA didn’t respond creditably. They gave foreign documents. Naturally, the one that responded with our own documents won. It is a long history but it is all behind us.
The FAAN’S helmsman said a new contract has been signed with a new companyRESA of France. which won the contract after meeting the requirements and applied creditably.
“The new contract and the project have already been approved by Mr. President. We have improved the process from two airports to now cover all the five international airports – Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu. At the end of the day, it is going to be better for all of us. We have already started taking delivery of equipment from RESA of France. FAAN went with the right procurement process and
On how FAAN’S policies have affected the industry, Yadudu who said FAAN policies are not new and their implementations have been ongoing, insisted that there is hardly any policy that is in conflict with operators.
“I believe all policies that have to do with FAAN have been with FAAN for a long time and the implementation is always ongoing. Once policies are drafted and approved, they are joined with existing ones and all implemented. FAAN has been in operation for over 40 years and we don’t have any policy outstanding. There are the new ones. Some are with the NCAA, some are industry standard recommended practices. So, we are always in the process of implementation,” saying
“I believe there is hardly any policy that is in conflict with operators,”
He said with those alleging that FAAN’s policies are in conflict with operators should try to understand that the policies and implementation are the same?, while it is only interpretation that is different.
“It is a question of understanding. The policies and implementation are all the same, it is interpretation that may be different. Usually, it is that interpretation, but you will find that you will all arrive at the same decision (if the interpretation is right). The same intention is being serviced.
He said this interpretation among the operators had on many occasions been corrected by the regulator
“But if you have the wrong interpretation, then we have to agree when the regulator tells you that your interpretation is wrong. It will always go the way of the regulator. The interpretation and absolute understanding lies with the regulator. So, if there is a conflict, it is for the regulator to clear the misunderstanding. But there is no fundamental misunderstanding or conflict between policies and what the stakeholders want.”
